Byzantine grave oriented east west.
Skeleton (12381) appears to have been placed deliberately/ on it's right side; with head at west.
This cuts an earlier mud brick and tile grave to the N/E. ( this earlier burial appears to have been robbed).
EW Byzantine? Burial.
This one of four graves that were buried next to each other. The following description of all four graves are from the 2005 Archive Report:
Along the west wall of Space 273, cutting through it, a row of four graves was identified presenting obvious similarities as well as some particularities. All four were east-west oriented, but only three of them (F.2162, F.2170 and F.2187) were lined with very solid, carefully prepared clay, while the fourth (F.2169) was a simple skeleton placed in the cut. The skeletons were laid all in the same position, with the head to west dorsally extended, slightly on the right side and similar to other burials in the vicinity. Only three of the four graves (F.2162, F.2170 and F.2169) contained skeletons, while F.2187 was empty.
F.2162 and F.2170 are identical side-by-side graves, with skeletons placed on their right side placed in rectangular cuts with sides lined with thick clay. There were no grave goods nor traces of wood coffins as have been found elsewhere. Skeleton (12386) in F.2170 was that of an adult male. The lower legs had been subsequently disturbed and moved towards the torso. Skeleton (12384) in F.2162 was an approximately six-eight year old child. The similarity of these two burials along with their proximity suggests a short time span between the two interments. |
